Province helping communities advance energy efficiency projects

Press Release

November 25, 2016

VICTORIA – The provincial government is providing more than $550,000 to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, including solar power, biomass heating and energy retrofits to local facilities in eight communities.

The funding is part of $1.3 million that will be provided under the Community Energy Leadership Program (CELP) over three years.

The projects selected for this round of funding under CELP are: City of Cranbrook, Kwadacha First Nation, Old Massett Village Council, City of Nelson, District of Saanich, Skidegate Band Council, Cowichan Valley Regional District; and Xeni Gwet’in First Nation.

CELP was established to support local governments’ and First Nations’ investments in energy efficiency and clean energy projects that meet the communities’ and Province’s energy, economic and environmental goals.

The program supports investments in energy efficiency and clean energy projects that help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, increase energy efficiency, stimulate economic activity and promote community partnerships with industry that advance British Columbia’s growing clean energy sector.

Quote:

Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines –

“Congratulations to the eight energy efficiency and renewable energy projects selected for our second round of funding under the Community Energy Leadership Program. Under the program, we’re providing $1.3 million over three years to help communities and First Nations reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions, supporting our commitments under the Climate Leadership Plan.”

Quick Facts:

• This is the second round of CELP funding following the distribution of $170,000 in 2015 to support projects in six communities.
• It is anticipated that the total greenhouse gas offsets realized by projects over rounds one and two of CELP will be 1,588 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, equivalent to taking 334 passenger vehicles off the road each year.
• The third funding call for CELP recently closed and project proposals are being evaluated.
• Since 2008, the ICE Fund has provided approximately $77 million to support pre-commercial clean energy technology projects, clean energy vehicles, research and development, and various energy efficiency programs.

Learn More:

For more information on the province’s work to support community energy efficiency and clean energy projects, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/communityenergyleadershipprogram

#BCTECH Strategy: www.bctechstrategy.ca

A backgrounder with more information on the projects follows.

BACKGROUNDER

Projects throughout B.C. receive CELP funding

The following projects received second-round CELP funding:

• City of Cranbrook – $108,000 for a heat recovery ventilator retrofit at a local community pool that will save $38,000 per year in energy use and reduce GHG emissions by 231 tonnes per year. (Total project cost: $368,000)
• Kwadacha First Nation – $150,000 for a bioenergy project in their remote community that will generate one million kilowatt-hours per year of energy, reduce diesel consumption and reduce GHG emissions by 987 tonnes per year. (Total project cost: $4.1 million)
• Old Massett Village Council – $47,000 for a biomass district heating system that will reduce diesel consumption, resulting in saving of $92,000 per year in energy use and reducing GHG emissions by 225 tonnes per year. (Total project cost: $874,000)
• City of Nelson – $20,000 for a solar photovoltaic project generating approximately 70 megawatt hours of electricity annually and demonstrating a first-in-Canada concept of a “community solar garden” where community members share in the ownership of a central solar system managed by the city’s municipal power utility. (Total project cost: $245,000)
• District of Saanich – $100,000 for an energy efficiency and air source heat pump retrofit project at a local community centre that will save $48,000 per year in energy use and reduce GHG emissions by 334 tonnes per year. (Total project cost: $1.2 million)
• Skidegate Band Council – $70,000 for a community-wide heat pump retrofit and training project that will save $53,000 per year in energy use and reduce the need for increased diesel demand. (Total project cost: $240,000).
• Cowichan Valley Regional District – $24,000 for a solar photovoltaic (PV) demonstration project that includes the installation of a roof mounted 22.3 kilowatt (kW) solar PV system on a local community building that will produce approximately 25,047 kWh per year (Total project cost: $73,164)
• Xeni Gwet’in First Nation – $36,000 for Phase 1 of a multi-phase community electrification project that will supply clean, reliable, renewable electrical energy to the community by replacing existing fossil fuel generators and reducing GHG emissions by approximately 8,900 tonnes over 20 years. (Total project cost for all phases: $2,846,050)

CELP provides funding up to 33% of the total project costs with proponents required to fund or seek further partnerships for the remaining costs. Together, the eight approved projects for 2016 will leverage over $8 million in investment from funding partners.

In the Climate Leadership Plan, the Province committed to working with communities to expand the progress made to date on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. CELP’s funding for community-owned energy efficiency and clean energy projects directly supports communities in meeting their greenhouse gas reduction and other sustainability goals.

Funding for CELP comes from the Province’s Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund. The ICE fund is a legislated special account designed to support government’s energy and environmental priorities and to advance British Columbia’s clean energy sector.

The #BCTECH Strategy is a key component of the BC Jobs Plan to support the growth of B.C.’s vibrant technology sector and strengthen British Columbia’s diverse innovation economy. The multi-year strategy includes a $100-million BC Tech Fund and initiatives to increase talent development and market access for tech companies that will drive innovation and productivity throughout the province.

Media Contact:Suntanu Dalal
Media Relations
Ministry of Energy and Mines
250 952-0628
Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

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